Massage device



W. G. SMITH MASSAGE DEVICE Y Dec. 18, 1951 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed NOV. l, 1949 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1.951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `v21,579,209- MASSAGE DEVICE William G. Smith, Portland, Oreg. Application November 1, 1949, Serial No. 124,881

9 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a power operable massage device especially useful in connection with medical treatments for human ailments, such as polio that is so devastating in; its effects, where massage of long continued duration is indicated for large areas of the body of the person being treated.

The objects of the invention are to provide a mechanical device capable of applying massage to selected portions of v.the human body, withthe endurance of the machine rather than that of a trained masseur, and at the same time to apply massage effects of a variable vigor and with variable intermittent or pulsation effects. y

Drawings accompany and-form apart of this disclosure in which a sheetvcontaining Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive are directed to the invention and Figs. and 6 on a second accompanying sheet delineate a suitable control valve to produce a variable pulsating eiect. This control valve is believed to be old and is shown merely as means for making the invention operable.` It is not claimed herein.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a separate machine, so formed asto be available for massaging the human arm; with a part broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the plane 2-`2,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectioned vacuum cup showing its relationship to supporting structure when in inactive rnormal position, for example the individual vacuum cup indicatedby numeral I in Fig. 1 Y

Fig. 4 is a view showing a cross section of a different shaped Amassage device, applied against a form representing the outline of a portion of thevback of a human figure, to be further explained; y I p l' Fig. 1,5 is a sectional view of a suitable control valve taken on the plane 5-5 of Fig. 6; and; y

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 5, taken on theplane 6-6 of Fig. 5. g Y Y Describing the figures of the drawings in greater detail: Numeral 2 represents a rigid oute1;.wall

and numeral 3 identifies a spaced rigid inner wall; numeral 4 indicates an end closure, which,

when the vacuum cups I with their tubular- Shanks Il are in place, 4constitutes boundary means for an airtight vacuum chamber 5. The vacuum chamber will be selectively energized by vacuum producing .means symbolized by the arrowA V which is connectedwith the vacuum chamber 5 by means ofthe conduit 6. Theshanksll exible rubber and are hermetically joined and sealed to the exible rubber wall 1, which will be joined to the end closures 4. The tubular Shanks II of the vacuum cups I extend across the space lI3 between the walls 3 and l, being hermetically sealed by suitable means to both walls 3 and 1. The space 8 between said rubber wall 1 and the rigid inner wall 3, is a suitable pressure chamber that will be supplied with pressure, either steady or variable as may be desired, through a suitable control valve from a pressure producing means symbolized by the arrow P, by way of the tube 9.

In Fig. 4, an arbitrary line I2 will be assumed to represent a region of the back of a human needing that part of the body massaged and the construction is according to the same principle, with the Vacuum chamber 5, the pressure chamber 8, between the rigid wall 3 and the flexible rubber wall 1. The pressure chamber 8 in this figure will be supplied with a suitable tube 9, not

shown in the fragmentary view in this illustration.

Other and diierently shaped units may obviously be constructed to be adaptable for applying massage to the lower limbs and with suciently powerful vacuum and pressure apparatus, it is evident that a multiplicity of pressure and vacuum machines will not be necessary.

The pressures in the pressure chamber 8 will be of sufcient magnitude to bend the flexible Wall 'I, after the manner shown, to bring the suction cups I into contact with the flesh surface to be treated by massage, stretching the shanks Il in some cases to bring vacuum cups I into contact. It is obvious that a kneading of the body parts can be accomplished by a pulsating The valves I5 and I6 are spool valves that have valve cooperating parts at each beveled portion of the spools to which the lead lines from the numerals I5 and I6 are directed, with barrel portions 20 and 2 I. Formed at their ends, the bush-A ings I8 and I9 have valve seats 22 and 24 at one andthe vacuum cups proper,.l,.are.made ofeveryn endand 2,3` and 25A at., the other., AAll of the fp rel going mechanism is mounted in properly machined seats in a casing 26. The valves I5 and I6 are moved by a lever 21 as will be explained.

The vacuum valve I5 is shown to be open, permitting air evacuation of the plural suction cups and their adhesion to a corresponding part of a patients body; the Vacuum influence being applied through the tube 28, the chamber 29, the conduit 30, the annular channel 3|, the valve chamber 32andthe tube 33 to the vvacuum space A10 5 in any'given massageY unit such as the unit shown in Figs. l or 4. After a predetermined interval, or under certain conditions, the valve I5i'* and with it the valve I6 will snap over unden: influence of the spring 34, which is under tension in either position of the actuator"35*--36f;'-` which is movable in the double ended: .cylindenv 21-38, the central portion of which is open to atmosphere by the lever slot 39, which likewiseputs the chamber 40, between the halves I5 and 20 I 6 in communicationA .Withfatmosphere r for exe.:A haustx.

The :connecting-.bar 4 I of. the actuator 35i-35 isfprovided Witha slot .42 within'yvhich'isia pin: I31,'...which` servesas a fulcrum,l againstgswhich 25 the lever 2'Lmay nda somewhat:.cushionedreace: tion:I

It twill.v be noted that fwhen.: ;th'ere is pressure: inazthes closed.: cylinder.- .38 .-;and.v :va-enum; of. some.

degreetwsufcient. to .causei adherence e of.; the svacuumzcups. I exists .inxthe cylinder endu23;::the:.. tendency vof the.;actuator will be.: to holdcther.. valvesfgfinA the .'position.. shown' with. there vacuum cups.: actuated and.- pressure shut oir .throughythaV porty 44; whiehffis :of relatively` small cross` secaV 35 tionfand ;capacity;'- butstilli supplied with; prese. f surerthrougl'y` the .report 45,1.which;. shoulda-haren'. enough:- `larger 1 capacity to. maintain; somepresf. sure.ragainstxtheylexible Y.rubber lwall. 1, and isinir communication. `with .the pressure* endgofftheecylinder. 38.-?.

This can give a steady adherence of the vacuumse. cups and; a; pulsating movement. of. the :flexible rubber -`*wall ofi a magnitude :determined-@by the. .1 pressure. and volume: of. :the 'pressure producer.. 45 which: willordinari-lygbefcf thefan type, assthew pressuresrequired are not large..

When the leverz21 is moved,eitherxmanuallyforf' by 'a' suitable mechanical apparatus to. r be vate tached Iandfconnected. to .the :hole 4IIS inf.the,.-Lleverc-v 50 2...r the .pulsating effect maybe variedawidelyf',

This .control v.valve system may; be considered.` as :schematic .only/tand .only to indicate that var-f. iable-systems ofmassage \maybe..applied :withf. my3machine by variable.- control meansfi.

The` vinvention 1 lresides-in .my arrangement. gof thefflexible :rubber wall and. :the .fsuctionf.cupsr.f.to|.. produce arvariable massage eiect onfthe:.eslfr-.toff which; itis .-applied.'

It will alsobe atoncezapparent that..the-whole:6 device can *be` easily washed 'fwith'a disinfecting fluid jand subsequently. dried. by..circulatingftheef luid 'followed by warm-air.l

Having fully disclosed my finvention/ so #thatdt can' be lmade and used; what I 'claim as'l-newfand desire-'to securefby-LettersfPatent,` isz 1. A machine forapplyingmassage--thereapyeb to aV portion ofhumanbody; comprisingaplural ity of suctioncups.- ayieldable mounting there-lr forcomprising* a wall-like rubbery structurer-- 701' means` for.' reacting againstf said'lpressure whena 7 5" .SaA'imassage machine, comprising a casing .shanedto conform to a portion of a body surface, sai'drcasingpomprising an outer Wall member, a rigidwall'spacedzinside of said outer wall defining a vacuum chamber therebetween, said inner wall provided" with a plurality of openings, rubbery vacuum cup Shanks sealed in said openings, a rubbery=-wallnext inside saidffinside. wall? through Whichfsaid yShanks `pass-.1in :sealed: relationship# thusfdening-a-pressure chamber; andsa-.yacuum' LAj massager. machina..y comprising. a casing-1 formed with body contact intermediate'aande.

outer .sur-face elements,=saidibody ccntactgsurface comprising .aplurality ofnrubbery 'vacuumsicupse adapted 'to attach.` 4to .f epidermal. `isurfacesvzunder r vacuumainuence.: 1an individual .elongated:..-rub;.f bery 1hollovv..=.shankl made .integrali withs'i each` vacuum... cup; .a vacuumzl chamber which.:` outer ends of eachxshankis.einioperncommunicaa..

tion; Vand a rubbery;` exiblefwalllthroughlwhich eachshank passes:mfsealedrelationshipftczdener a .pneumaticpressureachamber. ein. closely. .adda-z,

cent: position; :torsaidyacuumy rcupsi..

5.. Aldoublebactingimachine Kfor.` massagetztherff apy; ycomprisingifa casingnshaped for.1 placements. near. to a-portionl of bod-yisurfacesaidfmachinefscomprisinga Asuitable -vacuumf chamberrformed with a rigid wall, a pressure chamber nextiada.

jacent said rigid Wall, said pressurehamber-ex-z pandible. by: reason .of-lanfexpandible'wall-ispaaed fromvsaid. rigi'dfwalLa .fpluralityof vacuum:"cupszr mounted on the outside of said'.expancliblewall',`-

andholIow-elastic shanksfsealedf'tofandinfcoma munication with the interior of each of said i. .vacuum-.'cupsg.-saidshanks .sealed .fto 'both of said.

walls, spanning/the -space therebetween,'with`fthei ope-n' ends o-'Lsaidh'ol'lc'JWf-slfianks*y .insidel offlsaid: l vacuum chambers' 6. A machine for massage therapy, comprising .a casing,4` vacuum-and:pressurechambersformed 0::ber, anda pluralityofvacuuml cups sealedon lthe externalsurface of Asaid :rubbery walliwi-th#theirs-v cup suriacesdnE generallyfuniformfcontour'fwith cups outwardlyffeach'V otsaid vacuumlcups h'avings an'integr-al hollow shanktraversing rsaid-pressure vacuum chamber:1

vacuum-cupsf'said vacuum cups .lmade integrati with .elongated tubulan:rubberishanksg-.a:rubbers' walli through .zwhichrsaidzshanksL rpass; in.' sealede'; relationship;afyacnunrchambeniwithiwhich'saidoshanksrare :infsealed communicationsandrclasureee. members fjoinedfzwithsaidirubber swallgto come..

chambersandfin'A sealed'communicationf with-#said l 1 Y plete a tight pneumatic pressure chamber, through which said Shanks pass to communicate with said vacuum chamber, said shanks resilient to return said rubber wall to normal position in the absence of pressure and exert a lift on vacuum cups already attached by suction to a body surface.

8. A massage device for a limb of a human body, comprising a generally tubular casing, said casing enclosing a tubular vacuum chamber inside said casing, means for applying vacuum effects thereto, a rigid tubular wall defining the inner boundary of said vacuum chamber, a pressure chamber formed next inside of said vacuum chamber by a spaced flexible inner tubular wall, a plurality of vacuum cups made integral with elongated tubular shanks of soft stretchable rubbery material, said shanks extending across said pressure chamber and -being hermetically sealed to said rigid tubular wall and in open communication with said vacuum chamber, said elongated shanks sealed to said iiexible inner wall With the vacuum cups in position to attach to a limb surrounded by the tubular casing by vacuum, and end closure members for said chambers.

9. A machine for massage therapy, comprising a vacuum device for placement in contact relationship with a body surface, a plurality of rner and outer walls, and means for producing pressure between saidrigid inner wall and said flexible inside wall, said vacuum cups by their tubular Shanks being in communication with said vacuum chamber and sealed against pressure from said pressure chamber.

WILLIAM G. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Armbruster Apr. 28, 1903 Farnon Dec. 8, 1936 Rosett Oct. 24, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Oct. 31, 1916 Number Number 

